Al Michaels Comments on President Trump's Lake Ontario Name Change During NFL Broadcast

NFL announcer Al Michaels made a comment during the NFL preseason game between the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns on Amazon Prime Video, appearing to reference President Donald Trump's recent decision to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." During the broadcast, Michaels urged viewers to "read the news" after discussing the name change amid ongoing trade disputes with Canada. Trump had signed documents ordering the name change, stating it was effective immediately. While showing an aerial view of Huntington Bank Field, Michaels remarked, "That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie... We're not quite sure at this point," as co-commentator Kirk Herbstreit laughed. Michaels has been the play-by-play announcer for Thursday Night Football since 2022, after leaving NBC. He is currently believed to be on a year-to-year agreement with Amazon, having originally signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $15 million annually. Speculation about Michaels retiring after the 2025 season was addressed earlier this year when he confirmed he would return for the 2026 season, stating he feels he is "at the top of his game."